# Guusje Bendeler

> Guusje Bendeler, also known professionally as Desi Guusje Bendeler, is a Dutch designer, thinkPARALLAX co-founder and former CEO, and leadership coach at Cresta Coaching. Her work connects sustainability communications, organizational purpose, design education, and individual fulfillment at work. Based in Encinitas, California, she has worked in the Netherlands and the United States and taught visual communication at San Diego State University.

- **Role:** CEO and Leadership Coach at Cresta Coaching
- **Organizations:** Cresta Coaching, thinkPARALLAX (co-founder and former CEO), San Diego State University (former adjunct faculty)
- **Nationality:** Dutch
- **Education:** B.F.A. in Design and Visual Communications, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Netherlands, College of Executive Coaching
- **Known for:** Co-founded the agency that became thinkPARALLAX in 2003., Provided senior counsel for clients including International Paper, Southwest Airlines, Qualcomm, and Scotiabank., Taught visual communication at San Diego State University.

## Career timeline

- **1998** — Credited among the concept and design contributors to Nat & droog, a Rijkswaterstaat photography book.
- **2000** — Immigrated to the United States, according to her own account.
- **2003** — Co-founded Parallax Visual Communication with Jonathan Hanwit in a garage.
- **2006** — Agency evolved into Parallax Branding & Interactive, approximately three years after founding.
- **2014** — Agency introduced the PARALLAXploration employee travel program.
- **2017** — Published a reflection on the difference between organizational purpose and individual fulfillment.
- **2019** — Interviewed as thinkPARALLAX CEO and co-founder about ESG communication.
- **2023-2025** — Education at the College of Executive Coaching listed on LinkedIn.
- **2024** — Publicly described her move from thinkPARALLAX leadership into leadership coaching.
- **2025** — Participated in San Diego design-community coaching, speaking, and workshop activities.

## Achievements

- Co-founded the agency that became thinkPARALLAX in 2003.
- Provided senior counsel for clients including International Paper, Southwest Airlines, Qualcomm, and Scotiabank.
- Taught visual communication at San Diego State University.
- Named by type designer Andy Clymer as one of three teachers who encouraged his career direction.
- Led an agency described in her professional biography as a Certified B Corporation and women-owned business.

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — Announced she would coach at San Diego Service Jam, held February 21-23.
- **2025-11** — Listed as host of a November 20 Friendsgiving vision-board workshop in Encinitas.

## Links

- Website: https://www.crestacoaching.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiguusjebendeler

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/guusje-bendeler
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22